Top storytellers confess all
in English
Vergangene Termine anzeigen
Di
26.09.2023
20:00
Back from its summer break, the hugely popular TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar returns. Following sold out monthly shows since April 2022 these exciting storytelling evenings bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with eight gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional… except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID: “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories!”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our September 26th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Michael Bernstein, Anna Esterbauer and Clara Montocchio.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for well over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian. His stage shows have toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam and Edinburgh where he’s just had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Anna Esterbauer is a Vienna-based writer and storyteller who has performed in poetry slams and many storytelling evenings. She is a stalwart of Vienna Storytelling Collective. Her stories focus on the lives of women and the contradictions surrounding all of us, plus many stories of her typical, yet not so typical, Austrian family.
Michael Bernstein is a U.S. American expat who first experienced Vienna as a 15-year-old traveling with his famous composer/conductor uncle, Leonard Bernstein. Previously an arts administrator, Michael moved to Vienna in 2001, where he is currently a freelance writer, editor and translator, as well as hobby musician.
Clara Montocchio is a Viennese singer-songwriter with South African roots. Her deeply metaphorical writing is steeped in personal history, telling stories of connection and yearning (in English and her mother tongue Afrikaans) and mixing folk-pop, jazz and traditional music from across Europe and South Africa.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID: “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories!”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our September 26th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Michael Bernstein, Anna Esterbauer and Clara Montocchio.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for well over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian. His stage shows have toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam and Edinburgh where he’s just had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Anna Esterbauer is a Vienna-based writer and storyteller who has performed in poetry slams and many storytelling evenings. She is a stalwart of Vienna Storytelling Collective. Her stories focus on the lives of women and the contradictions surrounding all of us, plus many stories of her typical, yet not so typical, Austrian family.
Michael Bernstein is a U.S. American expat who first experienced Vienna as a 15-year-old traveling with his famous composer/conductor uncle, Leonard Bernstein. Previously an arts administrator, Michael moved to Vienna in 2001, where he is currently a freelance writer, editor and translator, as well as hobby musician.
Clara Montocchio is a Viennese singer-songwriter with South African roots. Her deeply metaphorical writing is steeped in personal history, telling stories of connection and yearning (in English and her mother tongue Afrikaans) and mixing folk-pop, jazz and traditional music from across Europe and South Africa.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
So
29.10.2023
20:00
Welcome to TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar. Our new season launched to a full house last month and our exciting storytelling evening for October brings you another fresh line up of storytellers. As always, expect surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our October 29th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Reginald Bärris, Alessandra Ranelli and Mira Perusich.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for well over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian. His stage shows have toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam and Edinburgh where he’s just had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Reginald Bärris is an American stand-up comedian based in Austria, and has quickly made a name for himself in continental Europe. In addition to having been the opening act for comedy legends Russell Peters, Tom Segura, and Ari Shaffir, Reginald has also performed at several major international festivals, and headlined 60+ cities in 22 countries across Europe. He also founded Vienna's "Comedy for Expats" night in 2016.
Mira Perusich is a singer-songwriter from Vienna with Burgenland-Croatian roots. Her music combines indie pop, jazz and alternative rock, interweaving them with folklore elements from the South-Eastern European/Balkan region. She writes in English, German and the minority-language Burgenland-Croatian. She explores the search for identity, the challenges of feminism, nostalgia and hope - all served with an undercurrent of (self-)irony.
Alessandra Ranelli is a vibrant writer, poet and performance artist. She is a glamorous and captivating regular storyteller with Vienna Storytelling Collective who has been published in the New York Times, is a budding novelist and winner of the Dragon’s Pen contest at Harrogate’s Crime Writing Festival 2023.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our October 29th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Reginald Bärris, Alessandra Ranelli and Mira Perusich.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for well over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian. His stage shows have toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam and Edinburgh where he’s just had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Reginald Bärris is an American stand-up comedian based in Austria, and has quickly made a name for himself in continental Europe. In addition to having been the opening act for comedy legends Russell Peters, Tom Segura, and Ari Shaffir, Reginald has also performed at several major international festivals, and headlined 60+ cities in 22 countries across Europe. He also founded Vienna's "Comedy for Expats" night in 2016.
Mira Perusich is a singer-songwriter from Vienna with Burgenland-Croatian roots. Her music combines indie pop, jazz and alternative rock, interweaving them with folklore elements from the South-Eastern European/Balkan region. She writes in English, German and the minority-language Burgenland-Croatian. She explores the search for identity, the challenges of feminism, nostalgia and hope - all served with an undercurrent of (self-)irony.
Alessandra Ranelli is a vibrant writer, poet and performance artist. She is a glamorous and captivating regular storyteller with Vienna Storytelling Collective who has been published in the New York Times, is a budding novelist and winner of the Dragon’s Pen contest at Harrogate’s Crime Writing Festival 2023.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Mi
15.11.2023
20:00
The hugely popular TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective continues in Volkstheater’s Rote Bar. Following sold out monthly shows since April 2022 these exciting storytelling evenings bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer is your host Turan Ali each time and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening of gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It feels like being the priest at a confessional, hearing such personal revelations …. but you don’t need to keep all these a secret !
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line up for our November 15thTRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Anne Johnson, Dave McKendry and Julia Stipsits.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written drama, comedy and documentaries for the BBC in the UK for 20+ years with his most recent being the critically acclaimed new adaptation of Brecht’s Mother Courage. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian and has toured across Europe. He is half Austrian, half Turkish, grew up in London, now based in Vienna.
Anne Johnson is an accomplished performer, storyteller and casual anthropologist. American by birth, Californian by nature and Czech by choice. She's the co-founder of Czech Theater (performing Czech plays in English) and created the performance event Comedius which runs monthly in Brno.
Dave McKendry Belfast born singer/songwriter now based in Vienna, writes, records and performs with Austria’s best and artists across Europe. He has toured Europe for years. His last tour had 28 shows in 30 days in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and autumn 2023 sees an Ireland tour. He released his debut studio album “HumanBeingKind” (Oct. 2022) and single “Song For No One” in June 2023.
Julia Stipsits is an Austrian actress and writer. She did her actor’s training in London and regularly appears on stage in Vienna, in German and English, as well as being a regular with Vienna Storytelling Collective. When she grows up she would like to appear in a remake of I Dream of Jeannie.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line up for our November 15thTRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Anne Johnson, Dave McKendry and Julia Stipsits.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written drama, comedy and documentaries for the BBC in the UK for 20+ years with his most recent being the critically acclaimed new adaptation of Brecht’s Mother Courage. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian and has toured across Europe. He is half Austrian, half Turkish, grew up in London, now based in Vienna.
Anne Johnson is an accomplished performer, storyteller and casual anthropologist. American by birth, Californian by nature and Czech by choice. She's the co-founder of Czech Theater (performing Czech plays in English) and created the performance event Comedius which runs monthly in Brno.
Dave McKendry Belfast born singer/songwriter now based in Vienna, writes, records and performs with Austria’s best and artists across Europe. He has toured Europe for years. His last tour had 28 shows in 30 days in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and autumn 2023 sees an Ireland tour. He released his debut studio album “HumanBeingKind” (Oct. 2022) and single “Song For No One” in June 2023.
Julia Stipsits is an Austrian actress and writer. She did her actor’s training in London and regularly appears on stage in Vienna, in German and English, as well as being a regular with Vienna Storytelling Collective. When she grows up she would like to appear in a remake of I Dream of Jeannie.
AUSVERKAUFT
Do
21.12.2023
20:00
Welcome to TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar. For our Christmas special, we bring you another exciting line up of storytellers. As always, expect surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional … except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID: „Exhilarating”, „A brilliant evening every time”, „Funny and very moving”, „Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our December 21st TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Alina Nikolaou, Patrick Lamb and singer-songwriter Amelie Tobien.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for well over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian. His stage shows have toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam and Edinburgh where he’s just had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Alina Nikolaou is a Greek-Austrian curator, social critic and regular storyteller at Vienna Storytelling Collective. Her stories range from serious to silly, provocative to humorous. She is co-director at TEDxVienna, where she grooms brilliant stories to bring them to life in the form of TED Talks.
Patrick Lamb is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and one of Austria’s top voice over artists. You will have heard his voice many times without realising it is Patrick. Originally from Sheffield in northern England he has lived in Vienna for over 20 years, with hilarious and moving stories galore from both countries.
Amelie Tobien is a singer-songwriter who grew up with American folk music, but she honed her storytelling skills and found her voice in Dublin, Ireland. She returned home to Vienna where she has found her inner circle of exceptional songwriters and friends to write, record, and tour with. Her album MONUMENT was released both on vinyl and digitally on 14 April 2023.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID: „Exhilarating”, „A brilliant evening every time”, „Funny and very moving”, „Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our December 21st TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Alina Nikolaou, Patrick Lamb and singer-songwriter Amelie Tobien.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for well over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian. His stage shows have toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam and Edinburgh where he’s just had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Alina Nikolaou is a Greek-Austrian curator, social critic and regular storyteller at Vienna Storytelling Collective. Her stories range from serious to silly, provocative to humorous. She is co-director at TEDxVienna, where she grooms brilliant stories to bring them to life in the form of TED Talks.
Patrick Lamb is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and one of Austria’s top voice over artists. You will have heard his voice many times without realising it is Patrick. Originally from Sheffield in northern England he has lived in Vienna for over 20 years, with hilarious and moving stories galore from both countries.
Amelie Tobien is a singer-songwriter who grew up with American folk music, but she honed her storytelling skills and found her voice in Dublin, Ireland. She returned home to Vienna where she has found her inner circle of exceptional songwriters and friends to write, record, and tour with. Her album MONUMENT was released both on vinyl and digitally on 14 April 2023.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Di
23.01.2024
20:00
Welcome to TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar. To kick off 2024, we bring you another exciting line up of storytellers. As always, expect surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our January 23rd TRUE STORY NIGHTS are storytellers Turan Ali, Liz Melchor and plus talented singer-songwriter Hanna-Maaria Tuomela.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Liz Melchor is a writer and journalist, published in The Washington Post, Marie Claire, The Guardian, and New York Magazine's The Cut. Originally from San Francisco, she ran a very popular monthly storytelling event in Lisbon for 5 years before recently moving to Vienna. She also draws, using robots, some of which she built herself.
Paul Jacobs is an Austrian comedian, photographer, video editor and podcaster. He is
a popular stand-up comedian who has been performing at Vienna’s trendiest comedy clubs for the last few years and is one of the hosts of the podcast The Eurocentrist.
Hanna-Maaria Tuomela is a singer-songwriter and pianist originally from Helsinki, Finland. She publishes her own music under the name Maaria and has performed in Finland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Malaysia and Japan. In 2018 she came second in the competition X Factor Finland performing her own songs and can be seen on ORF1 in 2024 in the new series of „Die große Chance – Let's sing and dance.“
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing. Book early – we are always sold out !
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our January 23rd TRUE STORY NIGHTS are storytellers Turan Ali, Liz Melchor and plus talented singer-songwriter Hanna-Maaria Tuomela.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Liz Melchor is a writer and journalist, published in The Washington Post, Marie Claire, The Guardian, and New York Magazine's The Cut. Originally from San Francisco, she ran a very popular monthly storytelling event in Lisbon for 5 years before recently moving to Vienna. She also draws, using robots, some of which she built herself.
Paul Jacobs is an Austrian comedian, photographer, video editor and podcaster. He is
a popular stand-up comedian who has been performing at Vienna’s trendiest comedy clubs for the last few years and is one of the hosts of the podcast The Eurocentrist.
Hanna-Maaria Tuomela is a singer-songwriter and pianist originally from Helsinki, Finland. She publishes her own music under the name Maaria and has performed in Finland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Malaysia and Japan. In 2018 she came second in the competition X Factor Finland performing her own songs and can be seen on ORF1 in 2024 in the new series of „Die große Chance – Let's sing and dance.“
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing. Book early – we are always sold out !
AUSVERKAUFT
Do
22.02.2024
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective brings you another exciting line up of storytellers. As always, expect surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our February 22nd TRUE STORY NIGHTS are storytellers Turan Ali, Veza Fernandez and Marcus Josef Weiss plus talented singer-songwriter Stu Neville.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Veza Fernandez is stage artist using dance, theatre, performance, stand up comedy, concerts and living texts to stir deep emotions and reactions. She has created punk music, queer underground, literature, experimental radio and contemporary dance. She has mostly played underground venues, with some international theatres and museums. Especially popular are her screaming workshops, and her solo show with many voices, Alalazo.
Marcus Josef Weiss lives in Vienna and Paris. He has written, directed and acted in plays for nearly 20 years, including performances in the Kammerspiele Hamburg, the Landestheater NÖ, the Kunsthalle Krems and the Volkstheater Wien. He’s an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and a researcher, curator and manager of long-term arts projects.
Stuart Neville is a Scottish singer-songwriter based in Vienna, Austria. His songs involve dreadnought acoustic guitars, wistful synth pads, heavy keys, sampled percussive elements and chewed-up tape sounds, with beaten-up yet sympathetic Scottish vocals. Beautifully crafted songwriting fuelled by the raw indie and grunge of his youth telling stories of people and travels of his life. A vibrant and disarming live performer and artist.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing. Book early – we are always sold out !
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our February 22nd TRUE STORY NIGHTS are storytellers Turan Ali, Veza Fernandez and Marcus Josef Weiss plus talented singer-songwriter Stu Neville.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Veza Fernandez is stage artist using dance, theatre, performance, stand up comedy, concerts and living texts to stir deep emotions and reactions. She has created punk music, queer underground, literature, experimental radio and contemporary dance. She has mostly played underground venues, with some international theatres and museums. Especially popular are her screaming workshops, and her solo show with many voices, Alalazo.
Marcus Josef Weiss lives in Vienna and Paris. He has written, directed and acted in plays for nearly 20 years, including performances in the Kammerspiele Hamburg, the Landestheater NÖ, the Kunsthalle Krems and the Volkstheater Wien. He’s an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and a researcher, curator and manager of long-term arts projects.
Stuart Neville is a Scottish singer-songwriter based in Vienna, Austria. His songs involve dreadnought acoustic guitars, wistful synth pads, heavy keys, sampled percussive elements and chewed-up tape sounds, with beaten-up yet sympathetic Scottish vocals. Beautifully crafted songwriting fuelled by the raw indie and grunge of his youth telling stories of people and travels of his life. A vibrant and disarming live performer and artist.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing. Book early – we are always sold out !
AUSVERKAUFT
Di
19.03.2024
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective brings you another exciting line up of storytellers. As always, expect surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our March 19th TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are stand up Jacob Liss, actress Isabella Jeschke and singer-songwriter Sam Chalcraft.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Jacob Liss is an actor, musician, and comedian from California, now based in Vienna. As an actor he has appeared in theatre productions and short films. As an accomplished stand-up comedian, Jacob has performed in Austria (Bomb Squad; Gays and Theys Comedy), Slovakia, Hungary, the Netherlands (Boom-Chicago, Amsterdam) and USA (The Laugh Factory, Chicago).
Isabella Jeschke is a freelance actress for theatre, film and performance. She is a member of the multi award-winning Aktionstheater. In 2013 she founded the art collective E3 Ensemble as artistic director and actress. She has been cast in international movies that have taken her to film festivals all over Europe.
Sam Chalcraft is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Cornwall, England, but has now made Vienna his home. In 2019 he released his debut album “From Busk Till Dawn” recorded in Los Angeles (One Week/SBÄM Records). He has toured to music venues and festivals throughout Europe including Austria, Croatia, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic and has supported many artists on their tours/concerts.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our March 19th TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are stand up Jacob Liss, actress Isabella Jeschke and singer-songwriter Sam Chalcraft.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Jacob Liss is an actor, musician, and comedian from California, now based in Vienna. As an actor he has appeared in theatre productions and short films. As an accomplished stand-up comedian, Jacob has performed in Austria (Bomb Squad; Gays and Theys Comedy), Slovakia, Hungary, the Netherlands (Boom-Chicago, Amsterdam) and USA (The Laugh Factory, Chicago).
Isabella Jeschke is a freelance actress for theatre, film and performance. She is a member of the multi award-winning Aktionstheater. In 2013 she founded the art collective E3 Ensemble as artistic director and actress. She has been cast in international movies that have taken her to film festivals all over Europe.
Sam Chalcraft is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Cornwall, England, but has now made Vienna his home. In 2019 he released his debut album “From Busk Till Dawn” recorded in Los Angeles (One Week/SBÄM Records). He has toured to music venues and festivals throughout Europe including Austria, Croatia, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic and has supported many artists on their tours/concerts.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Mo
22.04.2024
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective continues with another exciting line up of storytellers. As always, expect surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our April 22nd TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are popular Vienna stand up Josef Jöchl, Austrian actor, director and writer Romana Carén and (postponed from January’s show) Finnish singer-songwriter Hanna-Maaria Tuomela.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest, Istanbul and Edinburgh, where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Josef Jöchl is one of Vienna's favourite stand up comedians. As well as contributing to comedy evenings, his one man comedy shows fill theatres in Wien and he is increasingly being seen and heard on radio and TV, with his premieres often featured on Austrian TV. He has many adventurous and sometimes shocking stories to tell.
Romana Carén is a multi award-winning film and theatre maker, actress and vocal instructor from Vienna. She has collaborated with many acclaimed directors, and has multiple film production credits since 2013. Romana has won awards as an actress, director, screenplay writer, and a Best Short Film accolade from the Academy of Independent Film Awards. Most recently she co-wrote and directed the dark comedy film Sherlock Bruce (2023).
Hanna-Maaria Tuomela (who was due to be in the January 2024 show but was unwell) is a singer-songwriter and pianist originally from Helsinki, Finland. She publishes her own music under the name Maaria and has performed in Finland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Malaysia and Japan. In 2018 she came second in the competition X Factor Finland and can currently be seen on ORF1 in the new series of „Die große Chance – Let's sing and dance.“
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our April 22nd TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are popular Vienna stand up Josef Jöchl, Austrian actor, director and writer Romana Carén and (postponed from January’s show) Finnish singer-songwriter Hanna-Maaria Tuomela.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest, Istanbul and Edinburgh, where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Josef Jöchl is one of Vienna's favourite stand up comedians. As well as contributing to comedy evenings, his one man comedy shows fill theatres in Wien and he is increasingly being seen and heard on radio and TV, with his premieres often featured on Austrian TV. He has many adventurous and sometimes shocking stories to tell.
Romana Carén is a multi award-winning film and theatre maker, actress and vocal instructor from Vienna. She has collaborated with many acclaimed directors, and has multiple film production credits since 2013. Romana has won awards as an actress, director, screenplay writer, and a Best Short Film accolade from the Academy of Independent Film Awards. Most recently she co-wrote and directed the dark comedy film Sherlock Bruce (2023).
Hanna-Maaria Tuomela (who was due to be in the January 2024 show but was unwell) is a singer-songwriter and pianist originally from Helsinki, Finland. She publishes her own music under the name Maaria and has performed in Finland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Malaysia and Japan. In 2018 she came second in the competition X Factor Finland and can currently be seen on ORF1 in the new series of „Die große Chance – Let's sing and dance.“
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
So
12.05.2024
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective enters its third year with another exciting line up of storytellers. As always, there’ll be surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our May 12th TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are New York poet Ohan Hominis, multi-talented opera and theatre performer Colleen Rae-Holmes and captivating singer-songwriter Rhayn.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Ohan Hominis is a poet and cognitive scientist from New York City. He has lived in many countries and worked on a huge variety of projects, but central to all, he's been telling stories in different forms and thinking about how humans develop a sense of themselves and ask questions about the world, which is also the topic of his PhD research.
Colleen Rae Holmes is an Irish/South African opera singer, actress and director who studied theatre in Johannesburg, Opera brought her to Vienna in 1990. She has performed in theatres and festivals throughout Europe, including Klangbogen and the Wiener Festwochen. She founded the Yellow Cat Theatre company with regular productions since 2013. She is Artistic Director of Konservatorium für Schauspiel und darstellende Kunst in Wien.
Rhayn (pronounced “rain”) is an indie pop singer-songwriter based in Vienna, and is the brainchild of Regina Haring. In her introspective lyrics Rhayn captures personal moments, thoughts and emotions, a perfect match for True Story Nights. She has been working on a collection of songs that circle around the theme of “home”, exploring her upbringing in the Austrian countryside, released in March 2024 as her first EP “Days at Home”.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our May 12th TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are New York poet Ohan Hominis, multi-talented opera and theatre performer Colleen Rae-Holmes and captivating singer-songwriter Rhayn.
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023.
Ohan Hominis is a poet and cognitive scientist from New York City. He has lived in many countries and worked on a huge variety of projects, but central to all, he's been telling stories in different forms and thinking about how humans develop a sense of themselves and ask questions about the world, which is also the topic of his PhD research.
Colleen Rae Holmes is an Irish/South African opera singer, actress and director who studied theatre in Johannesburg, Opera brought her to Vienna in 1990. She has performed in theatres and festivals throughout Europe, including Klangbogen and the Wiener Festwochen. She founded the Yellow Cat Theatre company with regular productions since 2013. She is Artistic Director of Konservatorium für Schauspiel und darstellende Kunst in Wien.
Rhayn (pronounced “rain”) is an indie pop singer-songwriter based in Vienna, and is the brainchild of Regina Haring. In her introspective lyrics Rhayn captures personal moments, thoughts and emotions, a perfect match for True Story Nights. She has been working on a collection of songs that circle around the theme of “home”, exploring her upbringing in the Austrian countryside, released in March 2024 as her first EP “Days at Home”.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Di
25.06.2024
20:00
Wiederaufnahme in der nächsten Spielzeit!
TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective brings another exciting line up of storytellers before our summer break. As always, there’ll be surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our June 25th TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are Denice Bourbon, Will Milner and Clara Montocchio .
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023 and returns with it to Fringe 2024.
Denice Bourbon is a lesbian/queer feminist performance artist, singer, author, presenter, curator and stand-up comedian. She uses humour and entertainment as an activist tool to draw attention to political issues. In 2017 she co-founded the popular queer comedy club PCCC* (the Politically Correct Comedy Club), which she now runs solo and hosts.
Will Milner is a recovering science fiction writer from Sheffield, England, who now lives in Vienna, where he is studying physiotherapy. He has worked as a guide for reluctant pilgrims, as a copywriter for people who didn't know any better, and an environmental campaigner to people who didn't want to hear about it. He is constantly on the lookout for new ways to embarrass himself.
Clara Montocchio is a Viennese singer-songwriter with South African roots. Her deeply metaphorical writing is steeped in personal history, telling stories of connection and yearning (in English and her mother tongue Afrikaans) and mixing folk-pop, jazz and traditional music from across Europe and South Africa. Clara's debut solo album “My Vreemde Kind" is set to be released in autumn 2024.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective brings another exciting line up of storytellers before our summer break. As always, there’ll be surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is your host and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening with gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, journalists, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It will feel like being the priest at a confessional ….except you don’t need to keep it all a secret!
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredibly frank and touching stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse and amaze you with their honesty.
In the line-up for our June 25th TRUE STORY NIGHTS, joining Turan Ali are Denice Bourbon, Will Milner and Clara Montocchio .
Turan Ali has produced, directed and written BBC drama and comedy for over 20 years. He’s of Austrian-Turkish heritage, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. He’s also a stage storyteller and stand-up comedian who has toured to London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Budapest and Edinburgh where he had a 5 star hit with his Queer Folks’ Tales storytelling show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023 and returns with it to Fringe 2024.
Denice Bourbon is a lesbian/queer feminist performance artist, singer, author, presenter, curator and stand-up comedian. She uses humour and entertainment as an activist tool to draw attention to political issues. In 2017 she co-founded the popular queer comedy club PCCC* (the Politically Correct Comedy Club), which she now runs solo and hosts.
Will Milner is a recovering science fiction writer from Sheffield, England, who now lives in Vienna, where he is studying physiotherapy. He has worked as a guide for reluctant pilgrims, as a copywriter for people who didn't know any better, and an environmental campaigner to people who didn't want to hear about it. He is constantly on the lookout for new ways to embarrass himself.
Clara Montocchio is a Viennese singer-songwriter with South African roots. Her deeply metaphorical writing is steeped in personal history, telling stories of connection and yearning (in English and her mother tongue Afrikaans) and mixing folk-pop, jazz and traditional music from across Europe and South Africa. Clara's debut solo album “My Vreemde Kind" is set to be released in autumn 2024.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is becoming, internationally, the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Di
22.10.2024
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS is back from its long summer break for the start of its third year of sold out shows at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar! Vienna Storytelling Collective has another year ahead of exciting storytelling evenings, bringing you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is as always your host for these rollercoaster evenings of eight gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers, all of whom let you into secrets and untold parts of their lives.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : „Exhilarating“, „A brilliant evening every time“, „Funny and very moving“, „Incredible stories!“
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our October 22nd True Story Nights is Turan Ali, Ewa Bankowska, Anna Esterbauer and Patrick Lammer.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He has Austrian and Turkish parents He has also been telling stories on stage since 2012, and more recently as a stand up. His shows have toured internationally and he has regular sold out storytelling shows in Vienna and Edinburgh. This autumn he has a month-long comedy residency in Istanbul. He is the host and producer of True Story Nights.
Ewa Bankowska is a witty and creative performer, originally from Poland and lives and works in Vienna. She studied international relations and political science (Master’s), and contemporary dance and choreography. She works as a performer, choreographer, dramaturge and stand-up and has appeared at many top venues across Austria and internationally.
Anna Esterbauer is a True Story Nights regular, a Vienna-based writer, teacher and storyteller who has performed in poetry slams and many storytelling evenings. Her stories focus on the lives of women and the contradictions surrounding all of us, plus many stories of her typical, yet not so typical, Austrian family.
Patrick Lammer is an acclaimed Austrian singer-songwriter based in Vienna. He loves to challenge boundaries in his uncompromising lyrics. On his recently released debut album FROM THE COLD, Patrick Lammer explores uncharted territory, both in sound and content, telling stories about fears and hopes in an era steeped in uncertainty. He's a perfect match for True Story Nights.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the next big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : „Exhilarating“, „A brilliant evening every time“, „Funny and very moving“, „Incredible stories!“
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our October 22nd True Story Nights is Turan Ali, Ewa Bankowska, Anna Esterbauer and Patrick Lammer.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He has Austrian and Turkish parents He has also been telling stories on stage since 2012, and more recently as a stand up. His shows have toured internationally and he has regular sold out storytelling shows in Vienna and Edinburgh. This autumn he has a month-long comedy residency in Istanbul. He is the host and producer of True Story Nights.
Ewa Bankowska is a witty and creative performer, originally from Poland and lives and works in Vienna. She studied international relations and political science (Master’s), and contemporary dance and choreography. She works as a performer, choreographer, dramaturge and stand-up and has appeared at many top venues across Austria and internationally.
Anna Esterbauer is a True Story Nights regular, a Vienna-based writer, teacher and storyteller who has performed in poetry slams and many storytelling evenings. Her stories focus on the lives of women and the contradictions surrounding all of us, plus many stories of her typical, yet not so typical, Austrian family.
Patrick Lammer is an acclaimed Austrian singer-songwriter based in Vienna. He loves to challenge boundaries in his uncompromising lyrics. On his recently released debut album FROM THE COLD, Patrick Lammer explores uncharted territory, both in sound and content, telling stories about fears and hopes in an era steeped in uncertainty. He's a perfect match for True Story Nights.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the next big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Mo
25.11.2024
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS continues its third year of sold out shows at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar with our November show! Vienna Storytelling Collective’s hugely popular, exciting storytelling evenings, bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is as always your host for these rollercoaster evenings of eight gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers, all of whom let you into secrets and untold parts of their lives.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our November 25th True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, New York writer David Zellnick, singer-songwriter Dylan Gough and Greek-Austrian storyteller Alina Nikolaou.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian and Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out storytelling shows in Vienna and Edinburgh. He’s just back from a month-long comedy residency in Istanbul.
David Zellnik is a New York based playwright and musical theatre writer, staying until January in Vienna, the city his father left aged 8 in 1939. His musical Yank! has been performed internationally with sold out runs in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Brisbane. His young adult podcast musical Loveville is on all streaming apps. Last year he performed his monologue O Time in New York as part of the United Solo Festival.
Alina Nikolaou is a Greek-Austrian curator, social critic and regular storyteller at Vienna Storytelling Collective. Her stories range from serious to silly, provocative to humorous. She is co-director at TEDxVienna, where she grooms brilliant stories to bring them to life in the form of TED Talks, including the recent TED Europe.
Dylan Goff is an Irish indie-folk musician and singer-songwriter living in Vienna. He has a love of anything with acoustic guitar and synth. His lyrics are very affecting; he likes to dig deeper. Sometimes a bit grungy, often a bit sad, making him a perfect fit for True Story Nights. His huge range of songs and styles, albums and singles are on Spotify and all the streaming platforms where he has thousands of followers.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our November 25th True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, New York writer David Zellnick, singer-songwriter Dylan Gough and Greek-Austrian storyteller Alina Nikolaou.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian and Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out storytelling shows in Vienna and Edinburgh. He’s just back from a month-long comedy residency in Istanbul.
David Zellnik is a New York based playwright and musical theatre writer, staying until January in Vienna, the city his father left aged 8 in 1939. His musical Yank! has been performed internationally with sold out runs in London, Rio de Janeiro, and Brisbane. His young adult podcast musical Loveville is on all streaming apps. Last year he performed his monologue O Time in New York as part of the United Solo Festival.
Alina Nikolaou is a Greek-Austrian curator, social critic and regular storyteller at Vienna Storytelling Collective. Her stories range from serious to silly, provocative to humorous. She is co-director at TEDxVienna, where she grooms brilliant stories to bring them to life in the form of TED Talks, including the recent TED Europe.
Dylan Goff is an Irish indie-folk musician and singer-songwriter living in Vienna. He has a love of anything with acoustic guitar and synth. His lyrics are very affecting; he likes to dig deeper. Sometimes a bit grungy, often a bit sad, making him a perfect fit for True Story Nights. His huge range of songs and styles, albums and singles are on Spotify and all the streaming platforms where he has thousands of followers.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Do
19.12.2024
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS continues its third year of sold out shows at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar with our December show! Vienna Storytelling Collective’s hugely popular, exciting storytelling evenings, bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is as always your host for these rollercoaster evenings of eight gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers, all of whom let you into secrets and untold parts of their lives.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our December 19th True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, plus US writer based in Vienna, Alessandra Ranelli, and Austrian actor David Ketter.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out shows in Vienna, Edinburgh and Istanbul. He was recently awarded the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Alessandra Ranelli is a vibrant author, poet and performance artist. She is the woman in the red dress, a glamorous and captivating regular storyteller with Vienna Storytelling Collective. Originally from the USA, now based in Vienna she is the author of slutty-cozy crime novels. Her Murder At The Hotel Orient is to be published in February 2026 which we are all very excited about.
David Ketter, born in Schärding, Austria, is an accomplished actor, now living in Vienna. He has gained recognition for his roles in television and theatre including Amazon Prime series "Beasts Like Us" and popular Austrian TV series "Tatort" where he played Dr. Lautz. He is a versatile actor who appears in genres from action to comedy, and theatrical productions such as Elisabeth Tambwe's "Speech of Love."
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our December 19th True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, plus US writer based in Vienna, Alessandra Ranelli, and Austrian actor David Ketter.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out shows in Vienna, Edinburgh and Istanbul. He was recently awarded the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Alessandra Ranelli is a vibrant author, poet and performance artist. She is the woman in the red dress, a glamorous and captivating regular storyteller with Vienna Storytelling Collective. Originally from the USA, now based in Vienna she is the author of slutty-cozy crime novels. Her Murder At The Hotel Orient is to be published in February 2026 which we are all very excited about.
David Ketter, born in Schärding, Austria, is an accomplished actor, now living in Vienna. He has gained recognition for his roles in television and theatre including Amazon Prime series "Beasts Like Us" and popular Austrian TV series "Tatort" where he played Dr. Lautz. He is a versatile actor who appears in genres from action to comedy, and theatrical productions such as Elisabeth Tambwe's "Speech of Love."
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Do
23.01.2025
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS kicks off 2025, following two and a half years of sold out monthly shows at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar, with a fabulous line up for our January show! Vienna Storytelling Collective’s hugely popular, exciting storytelling evenings, bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is as always your host for these rollercoaster evenings of eight gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers, all of whom let you into secrets and untold parts of their lives.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our January 23rd True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, Austrian actor/writer Julia Stipsits, acclaimed US stand-up Terence Hartnett plus Irish singer-songwriter based in Vienna, Shane Ó Fearghail.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out shows in Vienna, Edinburgh and Istanbul. He was recently awarded the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Terence Hartnett is a comedian and cancer survivor from New York who is a regular at Broadway comedy clubs. He had his 3rd Edinburgh Fringe Festival sold-out run in 2024 with “1 Ball Show,” He was a 2022 selection for NY Comedy Festival’s Comics to Watch. His comedy includes personal storytelling and Comedy Clubhouse called his show “Insightful, emotional, and laugh-out-loud funny!”
Shane Ó Fearghail is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician living in Austria. Known for his multi-faceted voice and deep lyrics, he has established himself in the folk and indie music scene. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Shane is influenced by the rich musical and writing tradition of his home country. His music blends elements of Irish folk with modern influences, giving him a unique sound colour.
Julia Stipsits is an Austrian actress and writer. She did her actor’s training in London and regularly appears on stage in Vienna, in German and English. She is also a translator of published works, a voice over artist, has performed poetry on BBC radio, as well as being a regular with Vienna Storytelling Collective.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our January 23rd True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, Austrian actor/writer Julia Stipsits, acclaimed US stand-up Terence Hartnett plus Irish singer-songwriter based in Vienna, Shane Ó Fearghail.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out shows in Vienna, Edinburgh and Istanbul. He was recently awarded the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Terence Hartnett is a comedian and cancer survivor from New York who is a regular at Broadway comedy clubs. He had his 3rd Edinburgh Fringe Festival sold-out run in 2024 with “1 Ball Show,” He was a 2022 selection for NY Comedy Festival’s Comics to Watch. His comedy includes personal storytelling and Comedy Clubhouse called his show “Insightful, emotional, and laugh-out-loud funny!”
Shane Ó Fearghail is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician living in Austria. Known for his multi-faceted voice and deep lyrics, he has established himself in the folk and indie music scene. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Shane is influenced by the rich musical and writing tradition of his home country. His music blends elements of Irish folk with modern influences, giving him a unique sound colour.
Julia Stipsits is an Austrian actress and writer. She did her actor’s training in London and regularly appears on stage in Vienna, in German and English. She is also a translator of published works, a voice over artist, has performed poetry on BBC radio, as well as being a regular with Vienna Storytelling Collective.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Di
18.02.2025
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS hugely popular run of monthly shows (we sell out every time!) continues at Volkstheater’s Rote Bar, with another fabulous line up for our February show. Vienna Storytelling Collective produces these much-loved, exciting storytelling evenings, bringing you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer Turan Ali is as always your host for these rollercoaster evenings of eight gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers, all of whom let you into secrets and untold parts of their lives.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our February 18th True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, storyteller/stand-ups Alexandra Wanderer and Patrick Lamb, plus captivating Austrian singer-songwriter Mira Perusich.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out shows in Vienna, Edinburgh and Istanbul. He was recently awarded the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Patrick Lamb is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and one of Austria’s top voiceover artists. You will have heard his voice many times without realising it is Patrick. Originally from Sheffield in northern England he has lived in Vienna for over 20 years, with hilarious and moving stories galore from both countries.
Mira Perusich is a singer-songwriter from Vienna with Burgenland-Croatian roots. Her music combines indie pop, jazz and alternative rock, interweaving them with folklore elements from the South-Eastern European/Balkan region. She writes in English, German and the minority-language Burgenland-Croatian. She explores the search for identity, the challenges of feminism, nostalgia and hope - all served with an undercurrent of (self-)irony.
Alexandra Wanderer, born in Romania, is a stand-up performer who uses comedy and storytelling to explore questions of class, prevailing cultural habits and power relations. She studied fine arts because she believed in the idealism of art but now the art world has become a source of material for comedy. She has performed in comedy clubs and art spaces including Secession, Theater am Werk and Spektakel.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line-up for our February 18th True Story Nights is regular host Turan Ali, storyteller/stand-ups Alexandra Wanderer and Patrick Lamb, plus captivating Austrian singer-songwriter Mira Perusich.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for over 20 years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand up since 2021. He has toured internationally with regular sold out shows in Vienna, Edinburgh and Istanbul. He was recently awarded the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Patrick Lamb is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and one of Austria’s top voiceover artists. You will have heard his voice many times without realising it is Patrick. Originally from Sheffield in northern England he has lived in Vienna for over 20 years, with hilarious and moving stories galore from both countries.
Mira Perusich is a singer-songwriter from Vienna with Burgenland-Croatian roots. Her music combines indie pop, jazz and alternative rock, interweaving them with folklore elements from the South-Eastern European/Balkan region. She writes in English, German and the minority-language Burgenland-Croatian. She explores the search for identity, the challenges of feminism, nostalgia and hope - all served with an undercurrent of (self-)irony.
Alexandra Wanderer, born in Romania, is a stand-up performer who uses comedy and storytelling to explore questions of class, prevailing cultural habits and power relations. She studied fine arts because she believed in the idealism of art but now the art world has become a source of material for comedy. She has performed in comedy clubs and art spaces including Secession, Theater am Werk and Spektakel.
Join us for another exciting evening which shows why live storytelling is growing internationally as the new big thing.
AUSVERKAUFT
Do
13.03.2025
20:00
TRUE STORY NIGHTS (IN ENGLISH) 13th March 2025 @ 20.00h
The hugely popular TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective continues in Volkstheater’s Rote Bar. Following sold out monthly shows since April 2022 these exciting storytelling evenings bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer is your host Turan Ali each time and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening of gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It feels like being the priest at a confessional, hearing such personal revelations …. but you don’t need to keep all these a secret !
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line up for our March 13th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Anne Johnson, Jack Holmes and Ned Stranger.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for 20+ years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand-up since 2021. His recent tours have included Vienna, Scotland, Budapest and Istanbul. He won the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Anne Johnson is an accomplished performer, storyteller and casual anthropologist. American by birth, Californian by nature and Czech by choice. She's the co-founder of Czech Theater (performing Czech plays in English) and created the performance event Comedius which runs monthly in Brno.
Jack Holmes is a British-born comedian based in Central Europe. Known for his high-energy performances mixing anger and absurdity, he is prolific, performing upwards of 200 shows a year, and has worked in 30+ countries over 4 continents.
His new touring show “Round man, square hole” is a laugh-filled journey about finding every group you belong to insufferable.
Ned Stranger is a songwriter, storyteller and unapologetic over-sharer. His songs mix classical guitar and piano, exploring many themes. After studying law at Cambridge, he moved to London and grew an international following on Spotify. In late 2022 he moved to Vienna where he’s been building a name for himself with performances all over the city and beyond and has released many singles.
The hugely popular TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective continues in Volkstheater’s Rote Bar. Following sold out monthly shows since April 2022 these exciting storytelling evenings bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer is your host Turan Ali each time and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening of gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It feels like being the priest at a confessional, hearing such personal revelations …. but you don’t need to keep all these a secret !
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line up for our March 13th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Anne Johnson, Jack Holmes and Ned Stranger.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for 20+ years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand-up since 2021. His recent tours have included Vienna, Scotland, Budapest and Istanbul. He won the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Anne Johnson is an accomplished performer, storyteller and casual anthropologist. American by birth, Californian by nature and Czech by choice. She's the co-founder of Czech Theater (performing Czech plays in English) and created the performance event Comedius which runs monthly in Brno.
Jack Holmes is a British-born comedian based in Central Europe. Known for his high-energy performances mixing anger and absurdity, he is prolific, performing upwards of 200 shows a year, and has worked in 30+ countries over 4 continents.
His new touring show “Round man, square hole” is a laugh-filled journey about finding every group you belong to insufferable.
Ned Stranger is a songwriter, storyteller and unapologetic over-sharer. His songs mix classical guitar and piano, exploring many themes. After studying law at Cambridge, he moved to London and grew an international following on Spotify. In late 2022 he moved to Vienna where he’s been building a name for himself with performances all over the city and beyond and has released many singles.
AUSVERKAUFT
Sa
12.04.2025
20:00
The hugely popular TRUE STORY NIGHTS from Vienna Storytelling Collective continues in Volkstheater’s Rote Bar. Following sold out monthly shows since April 2022 these exciting storytelling evenings bring you a different line up of performers each time, with surprising, moving, hilarious and sometimes shockingly true stories. BBC drama/comedy producer is your host Turan Ali each time and welcomes you to a rollercoaster evening of gripping, high quality true stories – some from Vienna. Our ever-changing quartet of storytellers for each show includes novelists, comedians, radio, TV and film professionals, screenplay writers, performance poets, singer-songwriters and theatre-makers. It feels like being the priest at a confessional, hearing such personal revelations …. but you don’t need to keep all these a secret !
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line up for our April 12th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Katharina Gerlich, Dimitri Arnstein and Hanna-Maaria Tuomela.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for 20+ years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand-up since 2021. His recent tours have included Vienna, Scotland, Budapest and Istanbul. He won the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Katharina Gerlich is an award-winning Austrian actress, director and writer. She followed her passion for storytelling and trained to become an actress in Vienna and London with years of shows to her credit. Katharina's debut short film Sweet Survival is currently travelling on the festival circuit and has won Best Horror/Thriller at the Austrian Film Festival. Her latest pursuit is stand-up comedy.
Dimitri Arnstein is a Vienna based trans, gay, storyteller and comedian - alongside being a part-time student and part-time de-radicaliser - originally hailing from the Speckgürtel. You can occasionally find him strutting the stage, sharing stories of his family, class, queerness and disability, and the weird and wonderful ways they all come together.
Hanna-Maaria Tuomela is a singer-songwriter and pianist originally from Helsinki, Finland, publishing under the name Maaria. She’s performed in Finland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Malaysia & Japan. She was runner-up in the 2018 X Factor Finland performing her own songs and reached the semi-finals of the 2024 ORF1 “Die Große Chance“. In February 2025, Hanna-Maaria released her newest single, Lullaby,
WHAT THE AUDIENCES HAVE SAID : “Exhilarating”, “A brilliant evening every time”, “Funny and very moving”, “Incredible stories !”
True stories guaranteed to astonish, amuse or amaze you with their honesty.
The line up for our April 12th TRUE STORY NIGHTS is Turan Ali, Katharina Gerlich, Dimitri Arnstein and Hanna-Maaria Tuomela.
Turan Ali has been producing, directing and writing BBC Radio dramas, comedies and documentaries for 20+ years. He’s the creator, host and producer of True Story Nights. He has Austrian/Turkish parents, has been an on-stage storyteller since 2012 and a stand-up since 2021. His recent tours have included Vienna, Scotland, Budapest and Istanbul. He won the Creative Edinburgh Leadership Award 2024.
Katharina Gerlich is an award-winning Austrian actress, director and writer. She followed her passion for storytelling and trained to become an actress in Vienna and London with years of shows to her credit. Katharina's debut short film Sweet Survival is currently travelling on the festival circuit and has won Best Horror/Thriller at the Austrian Film Festival. Her latest pursuit is stand-up comedy.
Dimitri Arnstein is a Vienna based trans, gay, storyteller and comedian - alongside being a part-time student and part-time de-radicaliser - originally hailing from the Speckgürtel. You can occasionally find him strutting the stage, sharing stories of his family, class, queerness and disability, and the weird and wonderful ways they all come together.
Hanna-Maaria Tuomela is a singer-songwriter and pianist originally from Helsinki, Finland, publishing under the name Maaria. She’s performed in Finland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Malaysia & Japan. She was runner-up in the 2018 X Factor Finland performing her own songs and reached the semi-finals of the 2024 ORF1 “Die Große Chance“. In February 2025, Hanna-Maaria released her newest single, Lullaby,
EUR 15,– /
erm. EUR 9,–
Ticketserm. EUR 9,–
SHOWDOWN
Di
13.05.2025
20:00
Zum letzten Mal!
AUSVERKAUFT
Mehr Termine anzeigen